Now let’s talk about strawberries!

Several years ago, Des Moines planted a whole lot of strawberries at three public locations. As word has gotten out, more and more Demoiniacs are picking literally tons of free fruit each spring.

The strawberry patches are so popular that, if Des Moines is serious about increasing local food security, more plantings are needed. Yet there’s been resistance from some City officials, often citing “budget constraints.”

Budget constraints? Really? It takes 10,000 strawberry plants to cover between 0.6 and 1 acre of land. The cost of those plants is $2,500-$3,000.

In a budget of nearly $900 million, don’t tell me Des Moines can’t find a few grand for strawberries.

I spoke at the Des Moines city council meeting this week, making the case to plant more strawberries. Check out my three-minute spiel here. Continue Reading →